The question is: "What does a nation owe its military service members and other citizens after war? What, for example, did women, African Americans, immigrants and veterans expect from government? Describe the various obligations the U.S. government incurred when it went to war in 1917-1918, and assess how well they were fulfilled."
This is a potential essay question for a final exam tomorrow and I cannot think of specific obligations the US incurred. Did the government even make specific promises?
Thanks for the help!
Edit: I don't mean to sound like I haven't done any research, as there is plenty regarding how people of color went to war to prove their Americanism and advance their citizenship, and how the Total War aspect of WWI advanced women's roles. However I cannot find anything specific regarding the US government.
For women you could discuss how they had found a new freedom in labor as they had to perform secretary, clerical, labor jobs, etc while men were away. This gave them more money which gave them more freedom and they risked losing this upon the return of soldiers. For Africans Americans you could discuss the how Wilson wanted global democracy and discussed these in his 14 points speech and how these ideals resonated with blacks. For veterans, there were severe injuries incurred due to gaseous weapons and trench warfare. Now you have to discuss the obligations. For women, the government was obligated to give them the right to vote because they were now a more integral part of society because they had been working even though that is a little out of you timeframe. But you also talk about job security and how they needed to be afforded more opportunities to work. For African Americans you can discuss the ending of the Long Night in the south which had been plagued by Jim Crowe laws and grandfather clauses that kept slavery alive all but in name. The government had to take steps to end this otherwise it would be seen as hypocritical as because Wilson would have been offering the same ideals to the world that had not been promised to his own people. For veterans, the government was obligated to take care of them similar to today because they had fought to protect the fall of Europe and democracy and had to be at minimum afforded medical treatment.
Let me point you in a direction you haven't thought of: Pensions.
After the American Civil War, that was the biggest benefit paid to veterans, and it was a hot-button political issue throughout the latter half of the 19th century. I'm reminded of the case of Jim Tanner, the last man alive who saw Lincoln die. Later in life, Tanner — who lost both legs during the war — fought hard for pensions to benefit the disabled. So hard, in fact, that he was criticized for draining the government of money that could have gone to other causes.
Just as today, with the arguments over "tax and spend Democrats," there were criticisms of Tanner, a diehard Republican.
At the time of the First World War, the pension issue would be a dwindling issue but still alive in the minds of those making political decisions.
Thanks for the answers guys! You've given me some cool things to explore.